The modern NFL championship game, the Super Bowl, was founded in the 1966 season; the first four were contested between the champions of the AFL and the NFL.[3] After the merger, the Super Bowl became the united league’s championship. The Patriots made the 1963 AFL Championship Game, but struggled severely in the early years of the united league, not making the postseason until 1976. After a few good seasons including a Super Bowl appearance against a champion Bears outfit, the Patriots reached a nadir between 1989 and 1993 when they won only nineteen of eighty games.

The Patriots under Belichick have won three Super Bowl championships (XXXVI, XXXVIII, and XXXIX). They also played in and lost Super Bowls XX, XXXI, XLII, and Super Bowl XLVI. During the 2007 regular season, the Patriots became the only NFL team in history to win 16 games, and the first since the 1972 Miami Dolphins (in a fourteen-game season) to complete the regular campaign undefeated.[8] Belichick’s Patriots are one of only two teams to win three Super Bowls in four years (the other being the Dallas Cowboys from 1993 to 1996).[9]

Overall, the Patriots have made 19 playoff appearances, one of which was before the merger. Since the merger, they have played in eight AFC Championship Games, winning seven of them to advance to the Super Bowl, and losing to eventual Super Bowl XLI champions Indianapolis following the 2006 season.[10] In the Patriots’ 51-year history, they have an overall regular season record of 414 wins, 365 losses, and 9 ties, plus an overall postseason record of 23 wins and 15 losses. The Patriots are third on the list of Super Bowl appearances with seven, behind only the Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers.[11]

Notes

a The Season column links to an article about each season in the league (AFL for 1960–1969; NFL for 1970–present). The Team column links to an article about the Patriots' season that year. The Finish, Won, Lost, and Ties columns list regular season results and exclude any postseason play. Regular season and postseason results are combined only at the bottom of the list. In the Finish column, a "T-" indicates a tie for that position.

b Beginning in 1974, the NFL began playing a 15-minute sudden-death overtime period if a regular season game finished regulation tied. Since this change, ties have been rarer.[30]

c The Patriots and the Baltimore Colts finished tied. However, the Colts finished ahead of New England based on a better division record (7–1 to Patriots' 6–2).[31]

d The NFL expanded from a 14-game regular season schedule to 16 beginning in 1978.[32]

e The New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins finished the 1978 season with the same record. However, the Patriots were awarded the Division Championship based on a better division record (6–2 to the Dolphins' 5–3).[31]

f The 1982 NFL season was shortened from 16 regular seasons games to nine due to a players' strike. For playoff seedings, division standings were ignored and eight teams from each conference were seeded one through eight based on their regular season records.[33]

g The 1987 NFL season was shortened from 16 regular season games to 15 due to a players' strike.[34]

h The New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins finished the 1994 season tied. As the Dolphins had defeated the Patriots in both regular season meetings, the Dolphins were named Division Champions and the Patriots received a Wild Card berth in the playoffs.[35]

i The Patriots and the Miami Dolphins finished the 2001 season with the same record. However, the Patriots were named Division Champions based on a better division record (6–2 to the Dolphins' 5–3).[36]

j The Patriots, New York Jets, and Miami Dolphins finished the season with 9–7 records in 2002. For having the best record against common opponents, the Jets were awarded the Division Championship. Neither the Patriots nor the Dolphins qualified for the playoffs.[37]

k The Patriots, Dolphins, and Baltimore Ravens (AFC North) finished the 2008 season tied with identical 11–5 records. As the Dolphins and Ravens had 8–4 records within the AFC, and the Patriots a 7–5 AFC record, the Dolphins were awarded the AFC East title, and the Ravens were given a Wild Card berth in the playoffs. The Patriots did not qualify for the playoffs.[38]

l Years here refer to the year in which the season was played. Playoff games are commonly played in the January and February of the following year.

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